Description:

Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A fine sculpture hand-carved from the bone of an ungulate depicting a nude Ulysses - Greek Odysseus - the hero of the Odyssey in the moment his men tie him to the mast of his ship to resist throwing himself in the sea at the song of the Sirens; his men were alternatively instructed to fill their ears with wax so they too could resist the seductive melody. Skillfully sculpted in an expression of anguish, his face displays a furrowed brow and open, moaning mouth atop a pointed beard, all crowned by a pileus much like Odysseus wears on the ancient coins of Ithaca. His bare chest projects forward with his arms tied at his back, giving his body a great sloping form as he throws his head upward in anguish, wailing at the surrounding Sirens who soar through the heavens. A fabulous representation from one of the most significant works of literature in the Western canon! Size: 0.9" W x 2.6" H (2.3 cm x 6.6 cm); 2.8" H (7.1 cm) on included custom stand.

The pose of this figure is identical to a red-figure painting of Odysseus bound to his mast found on a stamnos in the British Museum from the 5th century BCE - museum number 1843,1103.31 or Beazley Archive number 202628.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#137231

  • Condition: A few small, stable hairline fissures, as well as expected surface wear commensurate with age. Possible loss of feet. Otherwise, intact and excellent with rich patina and nice preservation of incised detail.

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January 8, 2023 10:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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